We call it filtering over here. Down here in the south east if you didn't filter you might as well drive a car. It's sadly the only way you can move about on most motorways, towns and cities within a reasonable time frame. Thankfully most motorists are now aware of motorcycles filtering and will move over within their lane to allow you through. There are the occasional ones that will try to baulk you but if you've got your wits about you they don't cause too much problems. As for width I've never found it a problem, in fact the tenere is quite skinny compared to what some of the 'professional' filterers ride, and apart from van mirrors I usually bottle out long before a gap's too narrow. I just googled Townsville and apart from it having a very unimaginable name it looks a lovely part of Australia.