Stefan Dennis is "more affected" by his brother’s death now than he was when his sibling was tragically killed by a drunk driver 50 years ago.
The ‘Neighbours’ star’s sibling John was mowed down by an intoxicated motorist aged 12 years old when he was riding his bike, and the actor has urged people not to drink and drive because the repercussions are "devastating" for the family of a killed loved one.
He said: "What people don’t realise, it’s all very well to talk about drink-drivers, don’t do it and all that.
"But the repercussions of somebody’s actions by getting behind the wheel on drugs or drink is devastating to the people involved, it affects the people around them for the rest of their life.
"This happened decades and decades ago for me, but it still affects me. I’m more affected today than I was back then, because I was only a little kid then."
Stefan is still in disbelief that the driver was fined just AUD$200 for the incident.
He said: "How much do you think he was fined? AUD$200. That same weekend someone killed a koala and they weren’t drunk.
"But because koalas are protected species he got something like five times that fine."
The Australian actor is now calling for "stronger penalties" for drink drivers in his native country.
Speaking on ‘Jeremy Vine’, he added: "I don’t know about the straight-to-jail business … obviously if you kill someone then yes.
"But as far as first offence drink driving straight to jail? Mmm.
"I definitely think there should be a hell of a lot stronger penalties, this is an argument I’m having in Australia at the moment."
Stefan Dennis warns of ‘devastating’ drink driving repercussions
