A push within the Labor Party to overhaul its approach to asylum seekers has been neutered, with only minor changes to be made to the ALP's official policy platform.

Key points: Party is likely to increase intake to more than its current commitment of 27,000 refugees

Party is likely to increase intake to more than its current commitment of 27,000 refugees Offshore processing is still a key issue in asylum seeker debate

Offshore processing is still a key issue in asylum seeker debate Labor has pledged to review Newstart payments but has not guaranteed an increase

Offshore processing and turning back boats will remain, but party delegates are expected to support increasing the refugee intake when they vote on the issue at their national conference in Adelaide today.

Efforts to have Labor commit to increasing unemployment benefits look set to fail, too, with the party reluctant to make any major changes to policies just a few months away from the next federal election.

National convenor of Labor4Refugees, Shane Prince, acknowledges there is not enough support to end offshore detention or turn back boats.

The group was trying to amend the Labor Party's formal policy platform to:

"End all offshore detention" and bring asylum seekers to Australia or other third countries

"End all offshore detention" and bring asylum seekers to Australia or other third countries "Cease the practice of turning back boats"

"Cease the practice of turning back boats" Improve refugee processing in the Asia-Pacific so all refugees are "safely settled in Australia or a third country within 2 years of making the claim"

Mr Prince says a "durable solution" would be to set up "a realistic pathway for people who are at risk of being people smuggled" in Indonesia and Malaysia.

"The root cause of this problem is that between 2000 and 2010, we only took 56 people a year from the camps in Indonesia — and there is no 'queue' in Indonesia."

A cross-factional working group is still negotiating and expected to reach a compromise that would see Labor pledge to increase the annual refugee intake from its current level of 27,000 a year, with a focus on refugees already in the region.

The party is also expected to endorse the principle of medical transfers from offshore processing. ( AAP: Department of Immigration )

The party policy is also expected to formally adopt support for medical transfers of asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island, in line with the legislation independent MP Kerryn Phelps is trying to get through Parliament.

"We think that's a minimum level of humanity that's necessary," said Mr Prince.

"We're seeing a lot of (negotiating) behind the scenes.

"It may mean there's no need to have that debate on the floor (of the conference) if we can reach a position that everybody can agree to and that's a good thing."

No pledge on Newstart increase a 'disgrace': ACOSS

Labor's leadership would be happy with a conference free of major conflict or controversy, but not everyone is pleased with the compromises being struck behind closed doors.

The party's leaders are promising to review and reform Newstart, the unemployment benefit, but will not explicitly commit to increasing the payment.

The ABC understands Labor will agree to "urgently complete a review into the inadequacy of Newstart payments and make recommendations within the first 18 months of government".

"The review should include broad consultation and surveying of unemployed Australians about how the low rate of Newstart impacts on their health, ability to re-enter employment and to afford basic necessities, with the responses to be publicly reported," the proposed amendment states.

Mr Bowen said the Newstart Allowance is too low and needs to be reviewed. ( AAP: Lukas Coch )

Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen declined to nominate how much more he thought Newstart recipients should be receiving.

"Well, it's low and it should be reviewed and we should be looking to ensure it's adequate going forward," he said.

The head of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), Cassandra Goldie, is bitterly disappointed a more substantial pledge is not being supported.

"To simply review the level of Newstart, to potentially hold that review within the next 18 months, that outcome would be a disgrace," she said.

"It is palpably evident to anybody who looks at the numbers to know that $40 a day is not enough."

ACOSS is holding out hope Labor delegates can be convinced to commit to increasing Newstart payments by at least $75 a week before the policy is voted on later today.

Mr Bowen said a review is needed first, given changes could affect rental assistance payments or job-seeking arrangements.

"These are all matters which would take some reflection in government to consider the best approach.

"We want to get this right."

Ms Goldie said if Labor is serious about tackling inequality it must offer more than just the promise of a review.

"They have committed to a raft of personal income tax cuts, they have put dollar figures on the values of those … but for some reason they can't yet commit to doing something to people who are absolutely on the lowest incomes in this country — and we have to ask why."

Shorten in control of numbers at ALP National Conference

The ALP has held conferences to set its policies for more than 100 years.

Around 2,000 people are attending this three-day conference in Adelaide, including Labor's elected representatives, unionists, party members, business leaders and diplomats.

It is a uniquely transparent system in Australian politics and it comes with some political risks.

Internal divisions can be exposed, leaving the party leader vulnerable if they disagree with the majority of delegates.

But Labor leader Bill Shorten is in control, with factional support from the majority of the 400 delegates at the conference.