No dates have been announced and according to the band's fan site "we won't know exactly when, where and what we'll be doing before next January at the earliest", but that there will be a return is no longer in doubt.

The Oils are being relit ... Midnight Oil have announced they will be touring the world in 2017. Credit:George Fetting

"In the mean time please just ignore any rumours," the band has posted.

While this means the Australians definitely won't be making it on to the "Greychella" line-up of rock veterans - Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, the Who, Neil Young and Roger Waters - set up for a three-day festival in the California desert in October, a Midnight Oil tour in 2017 would be the first in more than 15 years.

The reformation and tour announcement also confirmed another rumour, that Garrett, a former Federal cabinet minister in the Rudd/Gillard governments, will be releasing a solo album. Those songs will be separate from any Midnight Oil show or possible recording.