Teen skateboard death inspires new Vic law

The death of a 13-year-old Victorian boy, killed by an unlicensed driver as he skateboarded to school, has inspired a new law set to pass state parliament.

Jalal Yassine-Naja was killed in 2017 by an unlicensed driver who was subsequently sentenced to 80 hours of community service over the death.

Upper house independent Rachel Carling-Jenkins has successfully added an amendment to a government bill which would deem any unlicensed driver dangerous if involved in a crash.

After passing the upper house on Tuesday evening, the law is expected to pass parliament before the end of the week with both the government and opposition's support.

Dr Carling-Jenkins said she was "very happy" with the support.

"This now means that if someone is unlicensed they are seen as a dangerous driver and will be held criminally liable if they cause a death or serious injury of a person on our roads," she told reporters at parliament.

"There is a lot of emotion behind this and I want to congratulate Olivia Yassine-Naja, Jalal's mother, for pursuing this through the Justice for Jalal cause. Last night Victorian parliament acknowledged the death of her son and that is an honour for her."

Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the government would support Jalal's Law through the lower house after backing it in the Legislative Council.

This is despite a cross-party parliamentary committee raising concerns the law conflicts with a presumption of innocence, and would likely result in unjust outcomes.