Midnight Oil will be the first band to receive the Sydney Peace Foundation's Gold Medal, with the organisation lauding the iconic rock group as an "Australian human rights trailblazer".
“This Medal is in recognition of that relentless focus, and in particular for their environmental activism, their humanity and their drive to promote justice through both their music and their actions," Archie Law, Chair of the Sydney Peace Foundation said.
The Medal replaces the Sydney Peace Prize in 2020 and will be awarded in a ceremony on November 26 where Stan Grant is expected to interview the band, followed by a tribute-performance by Jessica Mauboy.
In a statement acknowledging the honour, Midnight Oil's front-man Peter Garrett called for a "settlement" between non-Indigenous and First Nations people.
“The struggle for peace - and its partner justice - is universal and has occupied the centre of our music and activism for decades now," he said.
"Today real peace means reaching a lasting settlement with the First Nations people of this country and includes taking immediate action to protect our seriously threatened environment for once and for all."
The announcement comes in a big month for The Oils. On October 30 the group will drop a mini album titled, THE MAKARRATA PROJECT.
Following singles Gadigal Land and First Nation, the seven-track release will see collaborations with Dan Sultan, Bunna Lawrie, Sammy Butcher, Alice Skye and Frank Yamma.
It'll also include a full reading of the Uluru Statement from the Heart as the final track, read by Pat Anderson, Stan Grant, Adam Goodes, Ursula Yovich & Troy Cassar-Daley.
