Short was elected on 17 March 2001 at a by-election following the resignation of John Moore in what was normally a safe Liberal seat.
The Liberals' preferred candidate, Michael Johnson, was unable to stand because he had not renounced his British citizenship.
The seat reverted to the Liberals at the general election in November 2001, in which Short was defeated by Michael Johnson.
Short has a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Health Planning, and is a registered dental therapist.
She then helped establish Australia's first new Dental School in 57 years at Griffith University on the Gold Coast.