AHC: Australian Speed limits higher?

Australia has one of the poorest railway networks in the developed world, one of the lowest population densities in the world, is the 6th largest country in the world and has some of the lowest road speed limits and harshest enforcement in the developed world, mostly 100km/h on open roads but 110km/h for out best freeways and interstate highways in the outback.

With a PoD in 1974 with the metrification of speed limits and adoption of Australian Design Rules for cars to meet, how could Australia have speed limits similar to much of the rest of the developed world where 130km/h is common?

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Even the US and Canada seem to have lower blanket speed limits than a lot of European countries, in spite of lower population desities and less comprehensive railway networks.
I would imagine that enforcement, on the other hand, is stricter in many European countries, especially Germany and Austria, than in freedom concious USA. Not sure about Canada.
 
The US did that whole 55mph thing back in the day to reduce pollution or fuel consumption or something, since that was dropped US states have been steadily increasing speeds. In my experience in both the US and Australia the US simply does not enforce the speed limit on the open road and the ability to drive at US western state speeds is great over long distances. I wouldn't expect Australia to go open slather, but 130 on freeways, 120 on dual carriageways shouldn't result in tearful mothers coming on TV as 'experts' on road laws.
 
Well for many years there was no speed limit outside towns in the territory.
 
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There is a 276 km stretch of Stuart Highway that is unrestricted and other highways are 130 in the NT. If only the neighbouring states would get jealous and extend these limits into their own jurisdictions.
 
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