Prime Minister Julia Gillard is expected to soon announce the policy, her next major challenge after sorting out the mining tax.
Mr Crean, the education, employment and workplace relations minister, said he was sure the policy would be "sensible".
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"She knows it's important to get the balance right between being tough at the borders, but fair and compassionate in terms of our commitment to refugees," he told the Nine Network.
"She also understands it's terribly important that we develop a regional response, we talk more effectively to our neighbours about how we address it."
Australian authorities have been working with countries like Indonesia and Malaysia on how to reduce the number of asylum seekers passing through their seas and land on their way south.
The issue of asylum seekers is difficult for Labor because polls show many voters want a tougher border protection system, but that could alienate left-leaning Labor voters and send them towards the Australian Greens.
