A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showed there were 73 suicide deaths of current and former defence force members in 2023, according to preliminary data.
It's the lowest level of veteran suicides in a 12-month period since 2013.Â
"The statistics we've seen released today in the latest update do not paint a pretty picture," Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh told reporters in Perth on Tuesday.
"One death is one too many," he said.
"But we are encouraged to see that over the last few years, we have seen the number of personnel and veterans taking their own lives has started to fall."
Rates have steadily declined each year from the high of 90 recorded in 2019.
The report said 1840 ADF members died by suicide between 1997 and 2023.
Of those, 1532 were veterans and 308 were serving or part of reserves.
Suicide rates among veterans and those in the defence force are higher than in the general population.
There were 26.4 deaths per 100,000 people each year for male veterans and 10 per 100,000 for female veterans.
For men under 30, suicide makes up 30 per cent of deaths, but the rate is 42 per cent for those who previously served in the military.
Women under 30 who have previously been enlisted have a suicide rate double that of all women in the age group.
"Every day we see this, whether it's in a report which brings together those statistics, or whether it's in a media report or a report that comes to me as minister, of somebody taking their own life, that is a tragedy," Mr Keogh said.
The report's release coincided with the first anniversary of the final report of a royal commission into veteran suicide.
Nine recommendations from the report have been implemented, but 110 are still to fully come into effect.
Mr Keogh said most of the reforms would be rolled out next year, including a wellbeing agency, a sexual misconduct inquiry and regulatory and legislation changes.
"We take the royal commission incredibly seriously, and implementing its recommendations is something that the government is absolutely committed to," he said.
"Our focus has been, and will continue to be, on improving both the experience of our people and the supports in place for them and their families during and after service."
Among the recommendations from the royal commission was a Defence and Veterans' Service Commission, which will begin later in September.
Talks have also begun on setting up an agency for veteran wellbeing, with the hopes of it being established by 2026.
Navy veteran and RSL WA vice president Miquela Riley said the branch would have liked the government's response to have been faster, but appreciated "there's a mountain of work involved".
"We do want the government to get this right the first time, but we will hold the government to account as and where it is needed to make sure we get the best outcomes for veterans and their families," she said.
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