Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you are now claiming is that...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you are now claiming is that if a short position is established (T), but is covered T+1, T+2 or T+3 it will not make the list for T+4 publishing.
Whereby I believe that is not the case, because a short position is a short position on the day (T) and ASIC will publish it four days after reporting (T+4). However this way it my fit better into your conspiracy theories and novels.

Can you imagine the person having to juggle all those disappearing shorts, keeping track of and double/triple checking them, if it was done the way you're suggesting. Alternatively you might want to double/triple check on your theory, because you put so much weight on that information!!!