Teacher’s Pet podcast: Rob Stokes ‘amazed’ no charges laid over Lyn Dawson’s murder

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has expressed amazement that no charges have been laid over the murder of Lyn Dawson.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes. Picture: Jenny Evans

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has expressed amazement that no charges have been laid over the murder of Lyn Dawson and says he has instructed his department to investigate alarming revelations in The Australian that several teachers at Cromer high school were sleeping with school students in the early 1980s.

“As local member, I am confounded as to why the DPP has not initiated a prosecution,” Mr Stokes, the member for Pittwater on Sydney’s northern beaches, told The Weekend Australian. “As Education Minister, I am horrified at the culture of abuse at a northern beaches school in the 1980s.

“I have instructed the department of education to undertake an investigation to determine if any action might be taken against alleged perpetrators of abuse.

“I am advised that none of the teachers against whom allegations have been raised remain in the department’s employ.’’

Mr Stokes said he had initiated the investigation about a month ago “as soon as I read in The Australian there was some sort of culture of abuse”.

It’s understood Mr Stokes rang department head Mark Scott and told him to investigate.

But NSW Department of Education relieving secretary Peter Riordan said it was not within the department’s authority to investigate former staff members.

“Police investigate allegations of criminal behaviour, and the department assists in such matters when requested,’’ he said.

“Any form of violence is condemned by the department, and any witness or victim in such behaviour should report it to police.”

The Australian ’s investigative podcast series The Teacher’s Pet has put pressure on the DPP to act over Lyn Dawson’s murder.

Two coroners found, in 2001 and 2003, that Lyn was murdered by her husband Chris, a former Newtown Jets rugby league star.

But the NSW DPP has always maintained there is not enough evidence to prosecute and he has not been charged.

Mr Dawson strenuously denies killing his wife.