In similar circumstances to a fatal Sunshine Coast shooting on Sunday, police say they were defending themselves because they feared their lives were at risk.

It was the fourth fatal police shooting in South East Queensland since April, and the third in a week.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Steve Hollands said police were called to a disturbance on Nakina Street in Southport about 6.55pm on Monday.

He said it appeared that a man in his 30s was arguing with a woman, and when two dog squad officers told him to stop, the man turned on them.

"As consequence of that the male then came at the police officers with a knife. Police were then placed in a position where they had to use their firearms and as a consequence of that the male person is now deceased," Acting Assistant Commissioner Hollands said on Monday night.

"The officers are very shaken, of course. It's an awful for thing for this to occur at this time of the year for the police and also too for family of the person involved."

The officers performed CPR and paramedics also tried to save the man, but he died at the scene.

Queensland Police's ethical standards command will investigate the incident, as will the coroner and Crime and Corruption Commission.

On Sunday, a 51-year-old man was killed on the Sunshine Coast when he allegedly charged at police with a weapon.

A Kippa-Ring man was also shot dead by officers when he confronted them with a knife on November 17.

On Monday, before the Gold Coast incident had occurred, Police Union president Ian Leavers defended officers involved in the recent shootings.

"If the coroner wishes to look at them to see if there is better ways on how things can be done, we've all got an open mind," he said.

"These have been tragedies for police and everyone else involved. But at the end of the day police have to protect their lives and lives of the public as well."

Mr Leavers said the union had lobbied the government to issue more Tasers, but there were often situations when it was not practical to use the devices.