"It's a start. Something has to be done, anything will make a difference," she said.

It was June last year when Mrs Cramp, of Primbee, was awoken early one Sunday to the news that Simon had been set upon by a group of men on a night out in The Rocks.

Suffering bleeding on the brain after falling to the pavement, Mr Cramp was put into an induced coma before weeks of rehabilitation.

His case was one of several high-profile examples of the so-called "one-punch" culture that claimed the lives of Sydney teenagers Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie.

Mrs Cramp praised mandatory minimum sentences of eight years for a fatal one-punch assault, saying it would force people to think twice about their actions.

"I hope the punishment is more towards the top end of that scale," she said, indicating the proposed 25-year-maximum for a one-punch death.

"There are people who get hurt and spend their life in a wheelchair. Is their life worth less?"

Mrs Cramp said reforms were long overdue, but she was happy to see a government response to immense public pressure over alcohol violence.

"It's a fantastic start, but late. These laws might have saved Thomas Kelly or Daniel Christie," she said. "But it might save somebody's life this Saturday.

"We have to change the way people think, we need to say 'that's enough' to this," Mrs Cramp said.

However, not everyone is rapt with the mandatory minimums.

Wollongong solicitor Aaron Kernaghan was concerned the approach could actually lead to further injustices.

"It's never a good idea for a one-size-fits-all approach.

"There should be clearer sentencing guidelines, but not minimums. Crimes need to be dealt with individually."

Mr Kernaghan said it set a dangerous precedent leaving no room for individual circumstances or factors.

PROPOSED MINIMUM JAIL SENTENCES FOR DRUNKEN ASSAULTS

One-punch fatal assault (new offence): eight years

Reckless grievous bodily harm in company: five years

Sexual assault: five years

Reckless grievous bodily harm: four years

Reckless wounding in company: four years

Affray: four years

Reckless wounding: three years

Assault causing actual bodily harm in company: three years

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm: two years

Assault against police officers in execution of duty (not during  public disorder): two years

Maximum sentence for drug- or alcohol-fuelled fatal one-punch assaults set at 25 years, maximum sentences for other assaults to be increased by two years where drugs and alcohol are involved

Source: NSW Government