asx 'short sales' data not meaningful..why?

In the US and perhaps other mkts...short interst may be a good indicator of 'real' shorts...totally NOT the case in OZ..annd since the new reporting rules..never has been.

Why meaningless in oz?

The numbers they quote are cumulative. If i were a prop trader or hedge fund and sh sold 200k shares..it gets reported that day..fine...BUT...then if i cover them even on same day or day following...that not reported so the total shorts number does not go down. If i bght 500 call options against my 200k short shares..so really i am long if ncm rallies..still reported as a short. If i doing an 'arbitrage' incl shorting NCM..not reported as short,..if i a mkt maker..not reported...If i short the stock but then 'cover' with an OTC with another broker..dtaa says i short but not.

Point is..looking at short sales data in Oz is meaningless