Robert Carrington Cotton was born in Broken Hill in New South Wales on 29 November 1915 and educated at St Peter's College in Adelaide. He later studied accountancy at night by correspondence, qualified in 1936 and started a small accountancy practice within the family business.  

After the outbreak of war, Cotton was posted to the timber section of the Department of Munitions for a short time and on 18 July 1942 enlisted in the RAAF. Transferred to the Reserve on 18 December 1943, with the rank of Sergeant Pilot, he was discharged on 31 January 1947.
 
Cotton acquired a property near Oberon (NSW), which mainly produced merino sheep, and also participated in setting up a timber industry in the Oberon district. In December 1947 he was elected a Councillor of the Oberon Shire Council, a position he held until December 1950. During his term he also served as President of the Council. He was Managing Director of Timber Industries Pty Ltd (1959-68) and Oberon and Cottons' Pty Ltd, Broken Hill. He was also State President of the Liberal Party in NSW (1957-60) and Federal Vice-President of the Liberal Party of Australia (1960-65).

On 4 August 1965, following the resignation of Senator William Spooner, Cotton was appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council of New South Wales to represent that state for the Liberal Party in the Senate. He was elected in 1966 to fill the remainder of the casual vacancy, and re-elected in 1967, 1974 and 1975. In 1975, he was elected with more votes than any other candidate in a single election (almost 1,250,000 votes).

Between 1965 and 1969 Cotton was a member of several Parliamentary delegations and Committees and was also Government Whip in the Senate (1968-69) (see related agencies). On 12 November 1969 he was appointed Minister for Civil Aviation in the Gorton Government and retained the portfolio in the succeeding McMahon Government until its defeat on 5 December 1972.

Whilst a member of the Opposition, Senator Cotton was spokesman on Postmaster-General's Department, Works, and Services and Property matters (1972-74), Shadow Minister for Manufacturing Industry (1974-75) and Manufacturing Industry and Industrial Development (March-November 1975). 

After the dismissal of the Whitlam Government, Senator Cotton became Minister for Manufacturing Industry and Minister for Science and Consumer Affairs in the Fraser Caretaker Government (November-December 1975). He was Minister for Industry and Commerce (1975-77) and a Member of Cabinet in the second Fraser Ministry. As Minister, he also served on various Advisory Councils and was Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate (1976-78) (see related agencies).

Senator Cotton was not included in the third Fraser Ministry announced on 20 December 1977. The following year, he resigned from Parliament, was appointed Consul-General in New York (1978-81) and the property at Oberon was sold. He subsequently held appointments as a Board Member of the Reserve Bank (1981-82), Australian Ambassador to the United States (1982-85) during the Reagan Administration, Chairman of the Australian National Gallery Foundation (1991-94) and several company directorships.
 
Sir Robert Cotton was made a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in January 1978 and an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in 1993. He died in Sydney on 25 December 2006.

Sources:

1. The Age, 20 Dec 1977, p 1
2. The Australian, 20 Dec 1977, p 1
3. Australian Parliamentary Handbook, 20th ed (1978)
4. Canberra Times, 29 Dec 2006 (obituary)
5. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S 1, 3 January 1978, p 1
6. Sydney Morning Herald, 17 July 1978, p 3
7. Who's Who in Australia 1959, p 200; 2004, pp 513-4
PRE>




















Summary heading

  Hon Sir R C Cotton (CP 201)

Unregistered links

  22 Dec 1975 – 20 Dec 1977:  Tourist Ministers’ Council - Member

  22 Dec 1975 – 20 Dec 1977:  Textile and Apparel Industry Advisory Council - Chairman

  22 Dec 1975 – 20 Dec 1977:  Metal Manufacturers Industry Advisory Council - Chairman

  22 Dec 1975 – 20 Dec 1977:  Footwear Industry Advisory Council - Chairman

  22 Dec 1975 – 20 Dec 1977:  Automotive Industry Advisory Council - Chairman