The term refers to American advice columnist Dorothy Dix’s reputed practice of making up her own questions to allow her to publish more interesting answers.
The term has been used in Australian politics since the 1950s, and has become increasingly common in everyday usage, but interestingly is virtually unknown in other countries where Dix’s advice column was equally popular.
Use of “Dorothy Dixer” in a sentence
ABC News (March 6, 2020): “In reality, a large chunk of that time is eaten up with 'Dorothy Dixer' questions, where government ministers get backbenchers from their own side to ask pre-arranged questions, allowing them to spruik their own agenda.”
ABC News (August 27, 2019): “Liberal backbencher Tony Pasin asks a Dorothy Dixer during Question Time.”
Australian Policy Online (June 5, 2008): “Old-timers will recall the term 'Dorothy Dixer.' It denoted a question from a government backbencher to a minister that had obviously been planted.”