Leonie Short

Leonie Marjorie Short (born 1 January 1956) was a member of the Australian House of Representatives for eight months in 2001, representing the western Brisbane seat of Ryan for the Australian Labor Party, a party she had been a member of since 1981. 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. Her chances were significantly enhanced when the Liberals' preferred candidate, Michael Johnson, was unable to stand because he had not renounced his British citizenship. She defeated former state Liberal president Bob Tucker in a contest that took place at a bad time for the government, which was still reeling from fallout over the GST. However, the seat reverted to form at the general election in October 2001, which saw Short heavily defeated by Johnson.

Short holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Health Planning, and is a registered dental therapist. Following her time in parliament, she worked at Teachers Union Health and DRUG ARM. She then helped establish Australia's first new Dental School in 57 years at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. She is currently Associate Professor in Oral Health at Central Queensland University in Rockhampton. Leonie is also completing her PhD studies in assessing the quality of clinical assessment in oral health therapy education in Australia. She has published several articles in academic and medical journals. She is also an Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Executives and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.