Maxwell William Poulter (22 January 1913 – 2 September 1962) was an Australian educator and politician. He held degrees from the University of Tasmania and Columbia University, including a doctorate in education from the latter. He was a high school teacher and later lectured at the University of Tasmania and University of Queensland. He had a long involvement with the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and was elected as a Senator for Queensland at the 1961 federal election, after two previous unsuccessful candidacies. He was unable to take his seat and died in 1962 two months after the start of his term.