SHANE Warne says he fears the Australian way of life he knew growing up will soon be lost forever.
The cricket great said he feared traditional Australian values were being eroded. 
"I believe Australia was, not now, but was, the best country in the world," Warne said.
"Our attitude we had to life, to bring up our children in, bringing up three children over the past 18 years... I've seen the changes in Australia, the way the school education system is, I've seen the things some of these teenagers are exposed to now, the dangers, the pitfall, social media." Most Australians still have a soft spot for Warne, despite a string of high-profile scandals. He said his secret is just to be himself.
"That's where we've got to be careful in Australia. I look around now and some of the things, people have a go at â€¦ like when Lewis Hamilton was in Australia and was doing doughnuts - I thought that was sensational - but suddenly he's in all sorts of trouble with the do-gooders and the fun police.
"We've just got to be really careful, Australia is such a wonderful place and it's everything that people want when they go on holidays: sun, beach, lifestyle, food, shopping, nightlife, sports.
"I just feel that over the last bit of time everyone is being careful of what they say, everyone is really careful of saying the wrong thing or rubbing someone up the wrong way.
"Australians say it the way it is and that's the Australian way. I think if we lose that we're losing our DNA of what we are." Warne has an opinion on everything from cricket to politics, and he revealed that his mum used to clean Bob Hawke's house.
"I remember going to Bob's place, Hazel and my mum were very good friends, and I've known Bob since I was four or five years oldâ€¦," he said. Bob Hawke to me was just an awesome prime minister; I loved Bob Hawke," he said.For the record, he thought Tony Abbott was OK too, and he hopes Malcolm Turnbull will do a good job.