Gestures That Reveal So Much

by Stephen Loosley - Sunday Telegraph

Politicians may seek to disarm or divert or dissemble. Words may deceive. Body language does not.

For some time now, it has been possible to read into the body language of both the Prime Minister and his Treasurer that they have an understanding about the leadership of the Liberal Party.

This is most evident in that which is no longer apparent in their relationship when in proximity. As with Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, the Howard/Costello body language used to be dominated by tension. There was a crackling electricity between the two men which was reflected in an obvious discomfort in each other's presence.

This meant a need to avert eyes or stand that critical half step away from each other when required to be together.

Even at press conferences, the tension between the two Liberals meant that they did not approach matters jointly.

They offered answers, but each was carefully controlled, and did not ever involve a warm gesture from one to the other.

All this seems to be gone.

Peter Costello is "relaxed and comfortable", to borrow a phrase from one of his senior colleagues.

The Prime Minister, too, seems at ease with the world as is reflected in his sunny demeanour as he completes a lap of honour across the US, Canada and Ireland.

The signs are unmistakable that a decision has been taken on the leadership.

Political body language offers an inadvertent stream of communication, and more often than not suggests a good deal more than the speaker would like to convey.

Take Malcolm Fraser's reflexive shoulder movement whenever he was asked a question he didn't like, or he was preparing an answer that was less than forthright.

Bob Hawke displayed impatience, through the tugging of an earlobe. While responding, he sometimes displayed a tendency to play with a ring on his finger.

These became characteristic gestures.

When the current Prime Minister is wanting to make a point that is too clever by half about his opponents, he tends to face one way, while his eyes look back in precisely the opposite direction.

When he is annoyed, particularly by one of his ministers struggling at the parliamentary despatch box, he tends to turn his back on whoever is floundering with an answer. He does not want to know.

The same happens when Kim Beazley gets under his skin. Howard turns his back. It's fair to say that this is probably a gesture learned at cricket, where a batsman turns his back on a bowler sledging him.

In exactly the same way, Kim Beazley betrays his rugby sporting days by gripping the lectern, observing his favourite dictum, "front and centre", whenever he wants to make an important point.

He hitches up his trousers and moves forward, just like one of his beloved Knights taking the ball up around the edge of the ruck.

Peter Costello tries hard not to smirk, by developing a serious half-frown and a distant gaze as he argues a point. This is meant to convey gravitas.

So, body language gives the game away. To test the theory, next time you are watching Question Time or a press conference, turn off the sound. The missing words will not matter.

The gestures constitute the truth.