Body language expert reveals subtle clues about how Australia's most powerful leaders are feeling in a group photo  - and singles out one who looked like an 'awkward school girl'

A body language expert has singled out Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for looking incredibly 'awkward' during a meeting with state leaders.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared a photo of himself with the eight state and territory leaders ahead of the National Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

However while most of the leaders looked calm, collected and professional, body language expert Dr Louise Mahler told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Palaszczuk looked like an 'awkward schoolgirl'.

'First of all she's standing on one leg and knock-kneed,' she said.

'This is a position of weakness and defence. Young girls do it, it's holding your upper legs together. Her feet are also slightly pigeon-toed.

'She looks very shy, if she were a 15-year-old girl I'd say it's a nice photo but she's not, she's the premier of the state!'

Dr Mahler said Ms Palaszczuk's slumped posture and closed-off body language made her appear intimidated, while the other leaders looked open and confident.

Worsening the effect was the position of Ms Palaszczuk's hands.

'As a further measure of defence, she's got long arms but she's got one hand covering the other,' Dr Mahler said.

'Hands are trust. So there's two issues there, that position is called the Fig Leaf, it's when you cover your genital area. Then she's got the hand covering the other hand.

'She should put hand on her wrist, like Andrew Barr.

'It's what Obama always does. It gets you out of the Fig Leaf position.

'All her body language is screaming defensiveness.' 

Dr Mahler added the Premier's clothing exacerbated the signals her body language was giving off. 

'It's about the jacket. Have a look at it, it's too tight!,' she said.

'It's not one size too small, it's two sizes too small.'

She advised the best thing the Premier could do to appear more confident is work on her posture.

'Stand on two feet, like the men are, and get the body balanced and upright,' she said.

Dr Mahler believed the other leaders 'looked good' with proper posture and, for the most part, wide smiles. 

As for Mr Albanese, Dr Mahler said: 'He's holding the dog quite nicely and the dog seems quite happy. He's fine.'

The National Cabinet convened for the last time this year this week with its last sitting day scheduled for Thursday.

High on the agenda was discussions around the NDIS, national firearms register and Medicare funding.