The new Northern Territory chief minister has hit back at a Porsche executive who criticised his decision to end open speed limits.
The former CLP government had reintroduced the open speed limit in a trial capacity, and then expanded it in July last year after $3m of roadworks were completed.
Defenders of the open speed limit section noted that no deaths were recorded during the trial period, but the Northern Territory road toll is about three times higher than the national average.
Some NT residents had also expressed concern at Labor's decision, posting on social media that the open speed limit had been a drawcard for the Red Centre Nats event and the trial car industry had contributed to the Alice Springs economy.
But political leaders are once again pushing for a return to open speed limits, or at least increased limits, an undertaking that has plenty of both opposition and support. .
During the initial four years of the study period the NT had open speed limits on rural stretches of highways, permitting drivers to freely select the speed they travelled (Northern Territory Road Safety Task Report).
