Lyn’s Law to be put to NSW parliament, ensuring ‘no body, no parole’ rule for Chris Dawson

Dominic Perrottet will toughen ‘no body, no parole’ laws in NSW, ensuring convicted killer Chris Dawson spends the rest of his life behind bars unless the remains of his wife Lyn are recovered.

Forty years after Lyn Dawson, 33, went missing, her husband, Chris Dawson, was found guilty of murdering her. Picture John Grainger

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will toughen his state’s “no body, no parole” laws, ensuring con­victed killer Chris Dawson spends the rest of his life behind bars ­unless the remains of his wife Lyn are ­recovered.

Weeks after Attorney-General Mark Speakman was commissioned by Mr Perrottet to begin ­examining similar legislation in Queensland and other states, amendments to the Crimes ­(Administration of Sentences) Act were approved by cabinet on Monday afternoon.

Once legislated, the Bill will bring NSW into line with other ­Australian jurisdictions and ­require prisoners to satisfactorily co-operate with authorities to find their victim’s location before the State Parole Authority can grant their parole.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: Monique Harmer

Forty years after Lyn Dawson, 33, went missing, judge Ian Harrison – in a five-hour judgment in the NSW Supreme Court in late August – found her husband Chris Dawson guilty of murdering her.

Lyn’s brother, Greg Simms, said while the law – which he has championed as “Lyn’s Law” – may not ultimately lead to the discovery of her remains, the legislation would ensure other families of murder victims did not have to suffer as his family had.

“If this was to go ahead with the Premier pushing it … it will be the greatest thing since sliced bread,” Mr Simms said. “It will be justice.”

Merilyn Simms, his wife and Lyn’s sister-in-law, praised Mr Perrottet for having the laws examined by Mr Speakman, then considered by the cabinet so swiftly.

“We can’t have Lyn, but to have a law in her name that would help so many other people would be wonderful,” Ms Simms said.

Hedley Thomas, The Australian’s investigative journalist who pulled together The Teacher’s Pet podcast and reignited interest in the cold case, labelled the NSW government’s decision as a “powerfully important and positive step” for the families of murder victims.

“Killers who have been justly convicted of the crime can make a choice – reveal the whereabouts of the victim to get out on parole, or stay tight lipped and behind bars,” he said.

Ms Simms paid tribute to ex-lead detective Damian Loone and Bev McNally – the Dawsons’ former babysitter whose petition for uniform “no body, no parole” laws garnered 30,000 signatures – as the driving forces behind the introduction of the legislation.

There are six offenders con­victed of murder or homicide currently in the state’s prison system who could be impacted by the ­introduction of the Bill.

Mr Perrottet will give the Legislative Assembly notice on Tuesday that the legislation will be introduced later this week.

“We will make it impossible for offenders who wilfully and deliberately refuse to disclose information about their victim’s remains, to be granted parole,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Being unable to locate a loved one’s body is extremely distressing and traumatic for the families and friends of victims and it denies a victim the dignity of being laid to rest appropriately.”

Lyn Dawson in 1978

Judge Harrison dismissed Dawson’s claims of having received calls from Lyn after her disappearance, concluding that for 40 years the former Newtown Jets player had lied about his wife abandoning their two daughters at their home on Sydney’s northern beaches.

The reforms were modelled on laws from other jurisdictions and would apply to current and future inmates in NSW, Corrections Minister Geoff Lee said. They would also capture prisoners who were yet to be considered for parole.

“Any offender in prison coming up for parole should really think hard about maintaining their ­refusal to co-operate with police if they want to retain their prospects of getting parole,” Dr Lee said.