You shouldn't find any loans with interest lower than that, because any place giving a loan below inflation rates is actually not making any money because real interest levels would actually be negative.
well this isn't right. knowledge is an intangible asset, is it not? and intangibles are subject to amortisation are they not? so amortisation should offset any effects of inflation such that my HECS debt ought to get smaller not bigger. or so accounting 1 has taught me.