MELBOURNE Australian cricket great Shane Warne attended a picnic on Tuesday to help soothe strained relations over recent attacks on Indian students in the southern city of Melbourne.

Warne mingled with members of Victoria state's Indian community, shaking hands, posing for photographs and signing autographs as guests dined on somosas and sandwiches at Melbourne's Parliament House.

He assured guests he was listening to their concerns about attacks on Indians studying in Victoria, his home state.

“It's important for me as a Victorian ... to keep building the relationship with India and Australia, and particular Victoria,” Warne told the crowd.

“I want to listen, really, to hear what the students have to say and see what these guys ... how they're feeling about things.”

Warne is due to leave for India Thursday to captain the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

“I'll keep pushing the message across over there. I love India, I love Rajasthan when I play cricket there, so to me it was a natural thing,” he said.