Lawyers for News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst have locked horns with the federal government in the first day of High Court hearings over the police raids on her home earlier this year.

The proceedings in Canberra on Tuesday focused on whether the search warrant executed by the Australian Federal Police in June was properly drawn up, with Smethurst's lawyers challenging the document as invalid because it did not contain adequate information about the alleged offences.

News Corp journalist Annika Smethust, whose home was raided by federal police. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

They contend the search was unlawful trespassing and the appropriate remedy was to destroy the evidence gathered or to prevent police from using it in their leak investigation.

Stephen Lloyd SC, acting for Smethurst, told the court the "warrant must refer to the offending conduct and not simply a bare reference to the section" of the relevant criminal law regarding unauthorised disclosure of official secrets.