[2] Robertson's parents separated before he was born and he was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents.
He returned to Perth after two years, but in 1968 moved his family back to Darwin where he became an inspector of schools and adviser on education policy.
[2] Robertson first joined the ALP while living in Perth and was secretary of the East Cannington branch.
[2] Robertson stood as the ALP candidate for the House of Representatives seat of Northern Territory at the 1969 and 1972 federal elections, losing to Country MP Sam Calder on each occasion.
He settled in Canberra after the end of his political career and served as national president of YMCA Australia.