By Lucinda Garbutt-Young in Canberra

Labor is considering a backdown on its controversial migration policy, which would allow some backpackers to stay in Australia for longer than slated.

The government announced in September plans to reduce net migration to 225,000 people by 2028, down from 300,000.

It said it would be done in part by imposing a ballot system for working holiday makers. Caps would be placed on second-year visa places at 45,000, down from 57,000 this year.

A third-year cap of just 5000, instead of the present 31,000, was also announced.

But changes to that plan are now expected within weeks, as Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke grapples with growing criticism from industry workers.

Mr Burke said he had not finished tweaking the numbers, but he was getting close.

“The ideal landing place, if I can put it in these terms, is this: we get the net overseas migration outcome,” he told reporters on Friday, insisting it would not be a step back from his original announcement.

“It’s an improvement on implementation.”

Agricultural workers, particularly farm owners, said the changes would decimate their harvest-time labour force, during which international travellers, who need to do hours in the regions, work for them.

Tourism experts also warned the changes risked damaging Australia’s reputation as a sought-after destination, pulling income from the national economy.

The cap on working holiday visas extended for a third year of stay would likely grow by 20,000 places from what Mr Burke outlined in September to 25,000.

Earlier in the day, Mr Burke told AAP he was unable to compromise on the number of total working holiday visas.

He confirmed to media that industry ministers had been approaching him with proposed “tweaks” so they could “get the best possible use out of people while they are here”.

The minister did not confirm specific figures.

“This backflip on backpackers shows that this approach to immigration policy from One Nation and Labor, of just picking a number out of the sky, doesn’t work,” Greens leader David Shoebridge said.

“All across the country, communities, businesses and lives are improved by the many contributions of migrants,  and this is why these anti-immigration policies simply don’t stand up to scrutiny.”

The coalition and One Nation have been critical of Labor’s plan to decimate backpacker numbers, despite wanting to slash migration levels themselves.

The Liberal Party would cut net migration to 100,000 people in the first year. That is just one-third of current numbers, as it races to appease the more conservative One Nation.

Pauline Hanson’s party would cut migration by a similar amount.

The Nationals’ Anne Webster, who has been a vocal critic of Labor’s plan, considered the news of potential changes a win.

“I make no apology for going in very hard for our farmers and agricultural contractors,” she said in a release.

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.