Sir Robert Carrington Cotton, KCMG, AO (29 November 1915 – 25 December 2006) was an Australian politician and diplomat.

He held ministerial office as Minister for Civil Aviation (1969–1972), Science and Consumer Affairs (1975), and Industry and Commerce (1975–1977).

He was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide and trained as a Royal Australian Air Force pilot in 1942 and 1943, but did not participate in action in World War II as he was seconded to the Department of Supply.

[2] Cotton was appointed to the Senate to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Sir William Spooner in August 1965.

[2] During Cotton's term as Minister, the Department introduced security legislations to exclude non-passengers from international airport departure terminals.