I always time my divorces so that they finalize towards the beginning of new PAL renewal. That way you got 3 or 4 clear years in and less complications.
Read section 5(1) (2) of the firearms act. That's the criteria for eligibility for being issued a PAL. It wouldn't be the first time a woman was being difficult after a divorce. If she hasn't raised a safety concern to date, then pretty hard for her to raise one now knowing you just applied and need a signature. Her signature is not a requirement, they just want ex spouses to be aware in the event there is an issue.
Without a signature, they'll notify/interview her for sure.
It might take a while to get a PAL, but they are nothing if not thorough/pragmatic.
Best of luck!
In my hay day that would be most of the pretty girls in town.
Good thing they didn't have this outrageously ridiculous licensing system in place back then.
We didn't have to tell the government who we were f'king back then and amazingly there weren't a lot of guys going around shooting their ex-gfs.