A man has been shot dead by police after an officer was threatened with a rifle near Warwick in Queensland's Southern Downs.

Police were called to a Freestone address just after 4:00pm for a routine call when the incident occurred.

The man was shot by police and treated at the scene by Queensland Ambulance Service, however he died a short time later.

Ethical Standards Command is investigating the incident, which will be overseen by the Crime and Corruption Commission.