The ABC has launched Federal Court action to set aside a search warrant that authorised the Australian Federal Police raid on the national broadcaster’s Sydney headquarters, while News Corp is poised to follow suit over an earlier raid on a journalist's home.

The broadcaster is seeking the return of documents seized during the June 5 raid and will argue the warrant should be declared invalid on the basis it breaches the implied freedom of political communication in the Commonwealth Constitution.

AFP officers leave the ABC Sydney building on June 5. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Managing director David Anderson confirmed in a statement on Monday that the ABC had “lodged an application in the Federal Court of Australia to set aside the warrant ... and to demand the return of seized files”.

It does not expect the case to be heard until late July or early August. In the meantime, the AFP has given an undertaking not to access the files seized during the raid - currently being held in sealed envelopes - until the proceedings are finalised.