Canberra, Aug 2 (IANS): Australians have considerably increased their support for same-sex marriage in the last decade, a report has found.

The wide-ranging survey found that 67 per cent of women and 59 per cent of men want to see same-sex marriage made legal in Australia, the BBC reported.

In 2005, it was 43 per cent of women and 32 per cent of men, according to the annual survey of the same 17,000 people.

Report author Professor Roger Wilkins said it revealed a "very profound shift" in attitudes in the country.

"It is quite clear that community sentiment has shifted in favour of marriage equality," Wilkins told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Debate over legalising same-sex marriage has intensified in Australia this week amid speculation that a government MP may soon introduce a bill to Parliament.

However, Australia's ruling conservative coalition is split on the issue, and any push to legalise same-sex marriage was likely to encounter opposition.