No body, no parole: it’s Lyn Simms’s Law in NSW

Laws stopping killers from being released on parole in NSW if they don’t reveal the location of their victims’ remains have been named in memory of murdered mother Lyn Simms.

Lyn Simms and daughter Shanelle.

Laws stopping killers from being released on parole in NSW if they don’t reveal the location of their victims’ remains have been named in memory of murdered mother Lyn Simms.

The “no body, no parole” laws will be officially known as Lyn’s Law following a motion passed in the state’s upper house on Wednesday.

It comes just days before Lyn’s husband Chris Dawson’s appeal against his conviction for her murder is due to be heard in court.

Greg Simms with wife Merilyn and their daughter Renee speak to media outside court after Chris Dawson’s sentence for Lyn’s murder is handed down. Picture: Britta Campion

Lyn’s brother Greg Simms, his wife Merilyn, their daughter Renee and Lyn’s nephew David Jenkins were present for the recognition of the case’s key role in the laws coming into force.

“Our gratitude knows no bounds for Lyn to be immortalised and remembered in this way,” Mr Simms said.

The “no body, no parole” laws were passed by the NSW parliament in 2022 after Dawson, a former high school physical education teacher and star rugby league footballer, was convicted of Lyn’s murder.

Lyn, 33, disappeared from her family home at Bayview on Sydney’s northern beaches in 1982, leaving behind two young daughters, and her body has never been found.

The case was brought to international attention through The Australian’s podcast The Teacher’s Pet.

Chris Dawson is seen leaving Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney in 2018.

Supreme Court judge Ian Harrison found Dawson killed his wife so he could be with one of his students, whom he later married.

Dawson’s guilt was “the only rational inference that the circumstances would enable me to draw”, Justice Harrison found.

He was sentenced to 24 years’ jail for Lyn’s murder, with a non-parole period of 18 years.

Dawson, 75, has since been convicted and sentenced for carnal knowledge of the student and sentenced to a further three years’ imprisonment.

His appeal against his murder conviction is scheduled to be heard in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney from Monday.

Merilyn Simms said the recognition for Lyn was timely in light of national attention on violence against women.

The family had pushed for the introduction of the laws in 2022 because they “didn’t want other families to go through what we’ve had to go through”, she said.

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak moved that the laws be known as “Lyn’s Law” after being approached via a friend of the family.

Members of the Labor, Liberal and National parties voted in favour.

“This is only a small consolation. We would call on Mr Dawson to please do the right thing and tell us where poor Lyn is buried,” Mr Borsak said.

Mr Simms had approached the former Perrottet government about naming the “no body, no parole” laws in memory of Lyn, but the move was put off pending his sentencing and then due to the state election.

He subsequently approached his local Labor MP, Jodie Harrison, the minister for women and prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Mr Simms said the issue was referred on to NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley, and then to corrective services minister Anoulack Chanthivong.

Mr Simms said “it wasn’t going anywhere at all” before being taken up by Mr Borsak.

The motion stated that “for over 40 years, Lynette Simms’ family have suffered the pain of not knowing what happened to her”.

Both of Lyn’s parents “passed away in 2001 never knowing what happened to their beloved daughter” or being able to pay proper respects to her memory, it added.