What might the audience infer from Claudius' action of turning to Laertes first?

Claudius likes his new sense of control. He is now King and he gets to throw his weight around. Claudius does thin in his usual disingenuous fatherly way. He tries to address Laertes like a close relation. He intends to grant Laertes's wish to depart from Denmark but also uses his blessing to illustrate the idea that he is a goodly and fair king. Claudius sidesteps Polonius to show that he ranks higher than Polonius even in matters related to his son.