Lisa Wilkinson has slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison over the “smutty” comments he made about Pamela Anderson in a biting take-down onThe Projecton Monday.

Earlier this month the Prime Minister laughed off pleas the actor made for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to be brought home, adding that he’d had “plenty of mates” asking to be on his “special envoy” to deal with the formerBaywatchstar.

It took Anderson writing an open letter to the PM on Monday in which she labelled the PM’s comments “smutty” and “lewd” to bring the Gold Coast radio interview to the nation’s attention yesterday. But now that they have been, Wilkinson isn’t the only one infuriated by the comments.

In a prerecorded segment, theSunday Projecthost urged the PM to apologise – and explained to him exactly why his comments were so disrespectful.

“The problem is we don’t think you get it Prime Minister, because when you dismiss a woman’s ideas while stirring in some sexual innuendo it’s not just your words we’re hearing, it’s every time a boys club has got in the way of our hopes and dreams,” she said.

“It’s every disgusting comment we’ve heard muttered as we innocently walk down the street and just chalk up to being female.

“It’s every time we’ve been belittled simply for being a woman.”

Wilkinson told the PM he shouldn’t dismiss these comments as being from the “bleeding heart left” (a popular phrase of the right) – because even Pauline Hanson was disgusted by these comments.

The host accused the 50-year-old of trying to make himself more appealing to voters by presenting himself as the “everyman” – which she said is something Australians don’t want.

“We want a leader for a change – someone that sets the tone for a better Australia, someone exceptional, someone who – out of the 25 million of us available – can inspire us to be a better man, and woman.”

It’s the beef no-one saw coming: Pamela Anderson versus the PM Scott Morrison.

You might think it’s pretty weird and the PM thought it was funny enough to warrant a cheap gag – but @Lisa_Wilkinson thinks he’s dead wrong. #auspol #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/9wOtu8xeKJ

— The Project (@theprojecttv) November 19, 2018

The 58-year-old pointed out that the PM also presents himself as a family man, and asked him to consider what impact his words might have on his own children, and children everywhere.

“I wonder if this is how you would like men in the future to be talking about your girls?”

“I think it’s time for you to apologise to Pamela Anderson, if not for us then at least for the sake of your two daughters and for all the little boys out there too.”

While on Gold Coast radio stationHot Tomato FMon 5 November, Scott Morrison was asked about the direct plea Pamela Anderson made on60 Minutesearlier that week for the PM to use his powers to free Julian Assange from the Ecuadorian embassy and “throw him a parade” when he returns.

“I’ve had plenty of mates who have asked me if they can be my special envoy to sort the issue out with Pamela Anderson,” the PM joked, dismissing the plea and moving on to talk of live exports.

Then on Monday, the Daily Beast published an open letter the 51-year-old activist wrote to the PM, in which she criticised his “lewd” remarks while imploring him to do better and bring Assange home.

“You trivialised and laughed about the suffering of an Australian and his family. You followed it with smutty, unnecessary comments about a woman voicing her political opinion,” she wrote.

“We all deserve better from our leaders, especially in the current environment.”

Later in the piece, she suggested: “Rather than making lewd suggestions about me, perhaps you should instead think about what you are going to say to millions of Australians when one of their own is marched in an orange jumpsuit to Guantanamo Bay—for publishing the truth. You can prevent this.”