Labor would lift the annual refugee intake to 32,000 in a deal that was close to being struck on Sunday night in a bid to avoid a clash over asylum seekers at its national conference.

The party put on a calm and united show on the first day of its three-day forum in Adelaide, reaching agreement on new environment laws and announcing plans to give employees extra power to claim unpaid or underpaid superannuation.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and shadow treasurer Chris Bowen at Labor's national conference on Sunday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Sources involved in negotiations over the sensitive topic of asylum seekers said the factions would likely agree to raise the annual refugee intake to 32,000, including some community-sponsored places.

But the display of unity could end on Monday with a looming clash on whether to give 6000 failed asylum seekers a second shot at applying for protection. Left sources said the faction was yet to finalise a position, but did not see how they could reach a compromise.