What a crossbencher is
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A crossbencher is a member of parliament who does not belong to either the government or the official opposition, often sitting literally across the chamber from the two major groupings, which gives the term its name, which is not always obvious from the outside, a nuance that only becomes clear with time.
Crossbenchers can include members of smaller parties or independents, and in a closely balanced parliament they can hold significant influence, since their support may be needed to pass legislation or maintain confidence in the government, which explains why the safeguard is taken seriously, a nuance that shapes public trust considerably.
Because they are not bound by the discipline of a major party, crossbenchers often negotiate individually on specific issues, which can make their positions harder to predict but also gives them scope to secure concessions on matters important to their constituents, which is worth remembering in most contexts.